Blood Test Kit Graduation and Indicator for Small Volume Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood analysis methods face challenges in achieving high accuracy with small blood volumes, particularly due to variations in blood collection volume, which affect dilution factors and measurement reliability, and are invasive, causing discomfort and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A blood analysis method using a blood test kit with a diluent solution and transparent containers marked with graduations to accurately measure and maintain a constant blood volume, employing a combination of internal and external standards to stabilize and quantify blood components, allowing for precise analysis of small blood samples.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a small volume of blood is collected for analysis, then the invasiveness is reduced and patient comfort is improved, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to insufficient blood component amounts

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by adding a known amount of indicator substance to the blood sample during collection. This allows the dilution factor to be determined in advance through the concentration change of the indicator substance, enabling accurate measurement even with small blood volumes. The indicator substance serves as a pre-prepared reference that makes subsequent quantification reliable despite limited sample size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an indicator substance as an intermediary to bridge the gap between small blood volume and accurate measurement. The indicator substance, which is added in a known quantity, acts as a mediator that allows calculation of the dilution factor and subsequent determination of blood component concentrations without requiring large blood volumes. This intermediary enables the system to achieve measurement accuracy that would otherwise require larger samples.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the blood collection volume varies, then the ease of operation is improved for self-collection, but the reliability of test accuracy deteriorates due to varying dilution factors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of self-collectionVSAvoidtest accuracy reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by measuring the concentration of the indicator substance in the diluted sample and using this information to calculate the actual dilution factor. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to varying blood collection volumes automatically. By measuring the indicator substance concentration and comparing it to the known added amount, the system determines the precise dilution factor, ensuring accurate results regardless of how much blood was actually collected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by using the concentration of the indicator substance as a variable parameter to determine the dilution factor. Instead of assuming a fixed dilution factor, the system measures the actual concentration change of the indicator substance and uses this parameter to calculate the true dilution. This dynamic adjustment of the dilution factor based on measured parameters ensures reliability even when blood collection volume varies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If conventional blood collection methods are used, then sufficient blood volume can be obtained, but the invasiveness increases and patient discomfort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood volumeVSAvoidpatient discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies copying by using the indicator substance as a surrogate or copy reference to represent the blood volume and concentration relationships. Instead of directly measuring blood components in small volumes with high uncertainty, the system measures the indicator substance concentration, which copies the dilution information, and uses this copied information to calculate the actual blood component concentrations. This copying approach enables accurate measurement with minimal blood intrusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enables high-accuracy blood analysis with small blood volumes, reducing measurement errors and improving reproducibility, making it suitable for self-collection and minimizing invasiveness, while allowing for early disease detection and efficient health management.

Implementation Method 1

the collected blood is separated into blood cells and blood plasma by a separation membrane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a concentration (C 2 ) of the indicator substance in the specimen for quantitation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConcentration measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP3321676B1Blood test kit and blood analysis method
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3321676B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3321676B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3B
  • EP3321676B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a blood test kit and a blood analysis method capable of performing a blood test with a small amount of blood at high accuracy by visualizing a volume of blood collection and keeping the volume constant. According to the present invention, a blood test kit including a diluent solution for diluting components of a blood sample; and at least one transparent container for storing the components of the blood sample and the diluent solution, in which at least one constituent component included in the blood test kit is marked with a graduation for measuring the components of the blood sample and a liquid volume of the diluent solution, is provided.